Coin-controlled box.



' No. 678,595. Patented Iuly I6, |90I. J. W. TULLY.

COIN CONTBULLED BOX.

(Application tiled Apr. l, 1901.) (No Model.)

theirs Artnr rrrcs."

JOI-IN WV. TULLY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

COlNmCONTROLLED BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,595, dated July 16, 1901..

` Application filed .April l, 1901I Serial No. 53,805. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN XV. TULLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Boxes; and I. do declare/the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a coin-controlled boX designed to be placed over the call-up feature of a telephone, whether it be a crankbutton or the receiver itself, and it is designed primarily to compel the deposit of a coin of proper denomination before the telephone can be used.

The invention embraces the idea of providing a box or receptacle with a cut-away or open portion to'receive'the call-up crank or the like, the receptacle having a door provided with a coin-controlled lock.

The improved details in the construction and arrangement of the several parts will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof.

In said drawings the preferable embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the front of the receptacle, the door being in closed position. Fig. 2 is a corresponding elevation of the rear of the receptacle. Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged view of the coin-controlled latch, portions being broken away. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the coin-controlled latch detached from the door, the latter being shown in dotted lines; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, A designates a substantially rectangular receptacle or box, the same being divided into an upper and lower section, (designated by ct a.) The upper section a is open at its rear portion, as at a2, and is adapted to be projected and secured in position over a ring-up crank or the like of the telephone. In this position it will be apparent that the telephone cannot be used until the door vof the receptacle has been opened and access had to the interior thereof. The door is designated at B, and to prevent the opening of the same before a predetermined price has been paid for the use of the telephone the following coincontrolled latch is provided In the top of the receptacle is an opening C, through which a coin of proper denomination may be dropped into a funnel C. The funnel C is rigidly secured to the plates B B2, connected to each other and to the door through the medium of the cross-piece B2, integral with their lower ends. D designates the latch'casing, d being the face-plate thereof, and D the latch, of a character adapted to be thrown inwardly and outwardly. Intermediate its ends the latch -is provided with an elongated slot e and near its inner end is provided with a pin or projection e. This pin or projection passes through and works in a suitable slot b and the plate B2 and is adapted when the latch is in locked position to abut against the shoulder Z9" there on. This pin e' also passes through a corresponding slot b2 in the plate B'. Intermediate the plates B B2and capable of being slid back and forth is another plate E, the same being normally held in forward position by a spring fengaging the lug f thereon. The inner end of the plate E is also provided with a projection, the same being designated at F and extending outwardly through an elongated slot 'g in the plate AB, the slot ein the shank of the latch D', andan opening or slot F in the door B, the extreme end of the projection constituting an operating-handpiece.

From this much of the description the operation of the latch may be understood. A coin is dropped through the opening O in the top of the receptacle A into the chute C', whence it is directed into the space between the members B B2 intermediate the end of the plate E and the lug e on the latch-shank. It will thus be seen that the coin constitutes a rigid connecting means between the latch and the member E, so that as the stud F, projecting without the door, is forced to the right the latch is correspondingly drawn inwardly and the door released. The door may then be opened and the telephone used, orif proper connection cannot be made at once the ,door may be left open temporarily, so that an additional charge may not be necessitated. When the latch is thrown open, the coin (shown in full lines in Fig. 3) will be forced to the left, and as soon as it is pushed beyond the connecting portion or shelf B3 it will drop into the chute B4, from which it will be collected in the lower receptacle a. This receptacle is provided with a door or other suitable means of access X, designed to be opened by the key of a collector. If the coin is larger than the denomination determined upon to operate the mechanism of the latch, it can not enter the chute C, and if it is of a smaller character it will slip beneath the projection e and drop into the chute B4 Without operating the latch. In this manner fraud is avoided. To impart to the coin a downward tendency, the end of the plate E is inclined in a downward and inward direction, as at y, and when engaging the coin it will effectually prevent the same from rising in an obvious manner.

In case the device should refuse to work incident to a disarrangement of the parts, suit= able mechanism is prepared in the casing D for reti-acting the bolt or latch by a key inserted in the keyhole Z; but as this feature constitutes no part of the present invention it will not be further described.

In securing the box in position for use it may be attached in any suitable manner to the side of the telephone itself or to the Wall adjacent thereto should objection arise to securing it to the telephone. The fastening means can be arranged in any suitable manner so as to be operated from the interior of the lower or cash receptacle, only so that an unauthorized person cannot remove the same.

It will 'be obvious that the coin-controlled mechanism described herein may be used in connection with a telephone cabinet or booth as well as in the particular instance described.

Having thus described the invention,what

is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a casing of the character described, of a door hinged to one wall thereof, and a coin-controlled latch for locking said door comprising a spring-pressed bolt, a laterally-projecting stud or projection e on the bolt, a slidable plate E, a handpiece for operating said plate, and means for directing a coin to a point intermediate the rear end of the plate and the lateral projection on the bolt, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a casing of the character described, of a door hinged to one wall thereof, and a coin-controlled latch for lock= ing said door comprising a bolt, a laterallyprojecting stud or projection on the bolt, a spring for normally ejecting the bolt, means adapted to contact with the stud or projection to limit the movement of the bolt, a slidable plate, alaterally-projecting stud on said plate passing through slots in the bolt and .in the door and outward to constitute a handhold and means for directing the coin to a point intermediate the rear end of the plate and the lateral projection on the bolt, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with a casing of the character described, of a bolt, means for normally forcing the bolt outwardly, and means for retracting the bolt, comprising a slidable inember E having an inclined edge y, a projection or handhold projecting from said slidable member through a slot in the bolt and without the casing, a projection on the latch arranged in opposition to the inclined edge of the slidable member, and means for directing the coin to a point intermediate said inclined edge ot' the slidable member and the projection of the latch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. TULLY.

Witnesses:

T. A. MoCoY, O. A. DANIELSON. 

